Automatic recording telephone



Nov. 14, 1933. v. NIGERADSE AUTOMATIC RECORDING TELEPHONE 6 Sheets -Sheet 1 Filed Dec. .15 1930 I nmmmu I n a II] ii: .dflnnlllb l 5 51am L- I V; Ni gsrsdse Nov. 14, 1933. v. NIGERADSE AUTOMATIC nsconnme TELEPHONE Filed Dec. 15, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 u N K a w M mm RUN. MQN I 8 x 8 EN Eh m I \w m K R P (w.

Nov. 14, 1933. v. NIGERAD SE AUTOMATIC RECORDING TELEPHONE Filed Dec. 15, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3- a 5 M d M m 2 mm a a m\ \w L w EA |l1\ l ll 1 1 0 NQ .J v 0 \SW W$ a l U i n \m x i a H. l} I. h iv A nu w F u 2 .3 NR Q 0 w \R, A 5% .WQ \b I I. I I o \Q w l A G a Qw M N y 9% kl .m .FR M wrk 1933- v. NIGERADSE 1,934,735

AUTOMATIC RECORDING TELEPHONE Filed Dec. 15, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 14, 1933. v. NIGERADSE AUTOMATIC RECORDING TELEPHONE Filed Dec. 15, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 M'asr' adss 14, 1933- v. NIGERADSE 1,934,735

AUTOMATIC RECORDI NG TELEPHONE Filed Dec. 15, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 7'0 PEG OPDEE Patented Nov. 14, 1.933

PATENT- OFFICE AUTOMATIC RECORDING TELEPHONE Vladimir Nigeradse, Paris, France, 'assignor of one-half to Julian M. Thomas, Paris, France Application December 15, 1930 Serial No. 502,507

9 Claims. (01. 274-18) This invention appertains to telephonic apparatus and provides means for the automatic recording of a message when no one is present to receive the same.

The invention contemplates a magazine to receive a plurality of record cylinders, a recording mechanism, means for positively feeding the cylinders into operative position, one at a time, a carrier for receiving the cylinders as they are advanced, means for moving the carrier to admit of the cylinder receiving and recording the message, trip devices for releasing thecylinder bearing the message, mechanism for returning the carrier to normal position to receive the next cylinder for a repetition of the operation, and circuit breaking .means actuated by the carrier when reaching a normal position to throw the recording'mech'anism out of action until again brought into play bodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an automatic telephone recording apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a vertical, transverse sectional view about on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view about on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view 0 the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side view, the reverse of Figure 1, parts being broken away.

'Figure 7 is a detail view of the intermittently actuated rotary feeder for the cylinders, showing the gearing controlling the movement thereof.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spring actuated drum for automatically returning the cylinder carrier to normal position.

Figure 9 is a detail view of a part ofthe transmission.

Figs. '10 and 11 are diagrams illustrating working circuits.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like'reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the main frame which is of an appropriate construction to receive and support the operating parts and com-- prises a base and upright portions in which the various shafts are suitably mounted. The numeral 2 designates the main shaft, to which the power is applied for operating the various parts. The shaft 2 is hollow and receives a shaft 3 which telescopes therein and has a limited sliding movemerit. While the shaft 3 is freely slidable in the shaft 2, nevertheless, it is rotatable therewith at all times. A drive pulley 4 is fast to the shaft 2 and is connected to a suitable motor, not shown, by means. of a drive belt 5, the motor being actuated when a call comes in. A cam 7 is fast to the outer end of the shaft 2 and is disposed to actuate the movable member 8 of a multiple switch to close a plurality of circuits, one of which includes an electro-magnet 9 which, when energized, attracts and holds the member 8 in position with the several circuits closed, the shifting of the switch member 8 by the cam 7 corresponding to the usual unhooking of a telephone receiver which does not occur when this invention is opcrating. A closed helical spring 10 is associated with the movable switch member 8 to return the same to normal position when the electro-magnet 9 is de-energized.

The numeral 11 designates a vertical shaft which is geared to the shaft 2 and is operated thereby. A worm 12 fast to the shaft 2 is in mesh with the worm gear 13 secured to the shaft 11. A worm 14 fast to the upper end of the shaft 11, is in mesh with a worm gear 15 fast to a horizontal shaft 16 which is parallel to the main shaft 2. A worm 17 fast to the lower end of the shaft 11, is in mesh with a worm gear 18 fast to a horizontal shaft 19 which is also parallel to the main shaft 2.

A pulley 20 is formed with or connected to the drive pulley 4 for rotation therewith. A drive belt 21 connects the pulley 20 with a pulley 22 which is connected to a pulley 23 by beveled gearing 24. A drive belt 25 connects the pulley 105 23 with a pulley 26 fast to a vertical shaft 27, to the upper end of which is fitted a table 28 adapted to receive a phonograph disc record which cooperates with a transmitter 29 for reproducing a message to notify or advise the party calling that 13 0 the intended message will be automatically re-. corded. The transmitter 29 is moved across the record on-the table 28 in the usual manner and is returned to normal position by means of a fine screw 30 and pivoted arm 31 provided with thread segments to match the thread of the screw 30. The transmitter is pivoted at 32 and is lifted from the record on the table 28 by means of a projection 33 and arm 34. The transmitter is moved over the record disc by the engagement of its reproducing stylus with the record groove in the disc in the usual manner, the record, however, starting near the center of the disc and proceed ing toward the edge thereof instead of from the edge toward the center as isthe most general practies. The transmitter is formed with a nose 80 which normally rests on one end of a lever 81' which is normally locked in transmitter-supporting position by a locking arm 82 constituting the armature for an electro-magnet 83. The electro-.

of operation of the transmitter, the supporting element being .suitably recessed to provide clearance, and the action is so timed that, as the transmitter reaches the edge of the record disc, the end of the arm moves upwardly against the projection 33 and lifts the transmitter from the record. The upward movement of the transmitter carries the threaded arm or comb 31 against the screw 30 and lifts said screw, which I is mounted in a locking frame 84, until the comb clears the screw which thereupon drops into position beneath the comb just as the arm 34 clears the projection 33 whereupon the comb will rest on and mesh with the screw to be fed by its rotation to its free end. When the free end of the screw is reached, the comb drops therefrom but the nose on the transmitter is caught by the supporting lever 81 and the transmitter is held up out of contact with the recording disc until another call comes in.

Secured upon the main shaft 2 is a pulley which is connected by a belt 86 with a pulley 87 upon a counter-shaft 88 and a pulley 89 on the countershaft is connected by a belt with a pulley 91 on the axle or shaft carrying the arm 34. A pulley 92 on said axle or shaft is connected by a belt with a pulley 101 carried by a short shaft upon which is a gear 102 meshing with a gear 103 on the inner end of the screw 30 so that all the parts are driven from the main shaft 2.

It should be understood that the apparatus of this invention'may be disconnected when the regular telephone service is available. When the party at the receiving end of a telephone line, however, is to be absent, the apparatus of my invention is set up and an incoming call then sets the transmitter 29 in action, instead of ringing the usual bell, and the recorder, whch I am about to describe, is substituted for the party's telephone receiver.

A magazine 35 is provided to receive the cylin- .ders 36 upon which incoming messages are to be recorded. The bottom of the magazine" 35 G A WS- throughout its length to cause the cylinders 36 to move forward by gravitative action. A curved arrester 37 is located at the delivery end of the magazine 35 and is pivoted at its upper outer end, as indicated at 38. The inner lower end of the arrester 37 is free to move vertically and rests upon a cam 39 fast to the shaft 19. A rotary feeder 40 releases the cylinders 36 one at a three and is intermittently rotated. The feeder 40 consists of a drum having depressions in its sides to accommodate the cylinders. The feeder is fast to a shaft 41 which is rotatably supported against the top of the magazine in any preferred manner. A gear element 42 is secured to the shaft 41 and coacts with a companion gear element 43 fast to a shaft 44 driven from the shaft 16. The gear element 43 has a single tooth which coacts with pairs of teeth on the gear element 42. The pairs of teeth, four in number, are equally spaced, and the circumference of the gear element 42 is depressed between adjacent pairs of teeth to accommodate the gear element 43, as indicated most clearly in Figure 7 of the drawings. In this manner, the feed drum 40 is rotated ninety degrees for each complete revolution of the gear 130 element 43, and at each one-quarter turn of the drum 40, a cylinder 36 is released and rolls forward until it engages the arrester 3'1. At this time, the inner lower end of the arrester is moved upward by the cam 39 and lifts the cylinder 36 10.5 into position to be engaged by the carrier 45.

The carrier 45 consists of a U-shaped frame and is slidably mounted upon a guide bar 46. The

' shaft 3 is mounted in one side of the carrier 45 and is provided with a disc 47 to which is attached a covering 48 of sheet rubber, felt, or other friction material to insure engagement and rotation of the cylinder 36 with the shaft 3" A plunger 49 is mounted in the opposite side of the carrier and is provided at its inner end with a head 50 and at its outer end with a lateral projection 51. An annular stop 52 is formed or otherwise provided on the plunger 49 adjacent the head 50. An open helical spring 53 surrounds the plunger 49 and exerts a pressure on the stop 52 to nor- 12C mally urge the head 50 inwardly to maintain it in engagement with the end of the cylinder 36 in position for receiving the incoming message, the end of the head 50 being tapered to engage a corresponding depression 54 formed in one end of the cylinder 36. The stop 52 is conical to ride upon the upper end of a lever 55 which is fulcrumed upon the carrier 45 and is accommodated in a recess in the carrier below the plunger. 'A rod 56 is connected to the lower end 136 of the lever 55 and is slidably mounted in the member of the carrier 45 receiving the plunger 49. A bracket projects from the main frame and terminates in a projection 57 which constitutes a fixed stop to be engaged by the outer end of the rod 56. A lug 58 projects from the top of the carrier 45 and coacts withacamwhich consists of a cylinder 59 in the circumferential surface of which are formed opposed oblique grooves 60, opposed straight longitudinal grooves 61, and i4\. straight transverse end grooves 62 and 63 connecting adjacent ends of the grooves 60 and 61.

When the cam 59 is rotating and the lug 58 is traveling in the inclined groove 60 the carrier 45 and the cylinder 36 held thereby are moved slowly to the right or away from the magazine 35. When the carrier 45 nears the end of its movement to the right, the projection 51 engages a stop 64 which arrests the movement of the plunger 49 while permitting the carrier 45 to 15L 1,984,735 move to the limit of its travel. This disengages' the head 50 from the cylinder 36 and the latter, being released, drops upon an incline 65 and is discharged into a suitable receiver, not shown, arranged to hold the same. During the discharge of the cylinder 36 from the carrier 45, the lug 58 travels in the end groove 63, thereby holding the carrier stationary for the short interval needed for release and discharge of the cylinder. During the movement of the carrier 45 to the right, a spring drum 66 is tensloned and when the lug 58 clears the end groove 63 and registers with the straight groove 61, the carrier 45 is quickly returned to normal position by the reaction of the spring drum. 66, as will be readily appreciated. A tape or cord 6'7 connects the carrier 45 with the drum 66 and is normally wound upon the latter and unwound therefrom as the carrier 45 is moved toward the right. When the carrier 45 is returned to normal position, the rod 56 contacts the stop 5'1 and operates the lever 55 to move the plunger 49 outwardly so that the head 54 will not obstruct the passage of the next cylinder into position to be r pped between the head 54 and disc 4'7. At this time, the lug 58 of the carrier 45 is in linewith the end groove 62 and moves therein so that the carrier will be held at rest during the operation of the arrester 37 to lift a cylinder 36 and properly position it between the gripping elements 54- and 4'7, thereby avoiding interference between the moving parts and possible damage to the cylinder.

The operating circuit includes contacts 68 and 69, the latter being movable and connected to a spring-pressed lever '70. A trip '71 is pivoted to the carrier 45 and extends within the .path of the lever 'l0,-said trip being spring-pressed and yieldable in one direction, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. 3. 0n the return of the carrier 45 to normal position, 'the trip "11 engages and rocks the lever '70 to momentarily break the operating circuit by moving the contact 69 away from the contact 68. The breaking of the circuit results in deg-magnetizing the electro-magnet 9 which releases the movable switch member 8 which is returned to normal position by means of the spring 10. As soon as the trip '71 clears the lever '70, the spring pressing on thelever moves it back to the contact 68 thereby setting the apparatus for the next call with the motor circuit broken at the switch 8. When the next call is sent' in, a repetition of the operation here-i in described takes place and during the initial rotation of the cam cylinder 59, the carrier 45 is moved and releases the rod 56 from the stop 5'7, thereby permitting the spring 53 to act to move the plunger 49 and grip the cylinder 36 between the head 54 and disc 4'7. The cylinder 36 is rotated against the cutting point 72 of a J recording unit '73 as the carrier moves it endwise, with the result that the incoming message is recorded on the cylinder 36. The message is reproduced by fitting the cylinder to a holder '74 and rotating it against a reproducer 75 of any approved type.

side of the motor circuit with one side of the magnet 83 and also with one side of the magnet 9, the opposite sides of the magnets being connected with stationary contacts of the main switch. One side of the motor circuit extends from the motor to a contact 107 while the other side of the circuit extends from the source of" energy through an electro-magnet 108 to a contact 109 adjacent the contact 107, a branch conductor connecting the same side of the circuit with a contact 110. A contact 111 is disposed adjacent the contact 110 and a conductor 112 connects said contact 111 with a movable blade of the main switch. An electro-magnet 113 is alined with the magnet 108 and an armature 114 is common to the two magnets, said armature having blocks 115 and 116 thereon adapted, respectively, to engage and bridge contacts 107 and 109, and 110 and 111. Before a call comes in, that movable plate 117 of the main switch which is connected to the contact 111 is in contact with the fixed plate which is connected to the magnet 83, and another movable plate 118, to which the telephone line 119 is attached, isin contact with. a stationary plate from which a conductor 120 leads to and through magnet 113 and thence to the ground. A stationary plate adjacent the last-mentioned stationary plate is connected by a conductor 121 withthe recorder '73. Now, referring to Fig. 10', it will be understood that when a call comes in the current flows over the line and through the main switch to and through the electro-magnet 113 to energize the latter whereupon the armature 114 will be attracted and the blocks 115, 116 will be carried to the contacts 107, 109, 110 and 111, closing the motor circuit and simultaneously energizing the magnet 83. The armature 82 will be attracted and the transmitter 29 released to engage the record on the table 28 before the motor has rotated the cam '7 sufflciently to move the switch member 8. The motor will operate as long as the circuit from the plug 105 is unbroken and the several parts will perform their allotted functions in the manner described. When the rotation of the cam '7 rocks the main switch member 8 from the position indicated in Fig. 10 to that indicated in Fig. 11, the magnet 83 will be deenergized and the members 81 and 82 will be returned to transmitter-supporting position. The magnet 9 will be energized to hold the switch member and the telephone line will be connected with the recorder, this condition continuing until the motor circuit is broken through separation of the contacts 68 and 69, as described. When the circuit is broken, the magnets 9 and 108 will be tie-energized and the main switch will be turned to the positionshown in Fig. 10 through the action of the spring 10, thus setting the apparatus for a second call. While the contacts 68 and 69 are separated only momentarily, the motor stops and will not again operate until another call comes in for the reason that magnets 108, 113 have been de-energized and the armature 114 released, breaking the circuits at the contacts 107, 109, 110 and 111.

The cylinders 36 may be of cheap construction, to be discarded after the message has been reproduced and it is intended to have only one message on any one cylinder, the machine being any determinate construction and arrangement found most advantageous for the purpose intended and resulting in a compact, eflective and simple structure for attaining the object a the invention.

What is claimed is:

I. In an automatic recording mechanism, a runway constructed to receive a plurality of record blanks, means mounted in the runway for successively releasing and advancing the blanks, a carrier movable transversely of the runway and provided with blank gripping means, an arrester for limiting the advance of the blanks, means for moving the arrester-to lift a blank into proper position to be engaged by the gripping means, a recorder, means for rotating the blank, and other means for moving the carrier to admit of properly recording a message on the blank.

2. In an automatic recording mechanism, the combination with a carrier provided with gripping means, means for feeding record blanks successively to the gripping means, a recorder past which the carrier may move, a cam having an inclined way in engagement with the carrier to effect positive longitudinal movement thereof, and means adapted to return the carrier to normal 3 position when released from the inclined way of the cam.

3. In an automatic recording mechanism, a carrier provided with gripping means, means for feeding record blanks thereto, a recording mechanism, and a cam for moving the carrier in one direction past the recording mechanism and having inclined and straight ways and connecting end ways, and means for returning the carrier to normal position when released from the influence of the inclined way.

4. In an automatic recording mechanism, a carrier provided with'gripping means and having a lug, a cam provided with inclined and straight grooves and short connecting end grooves to receive the lug of the carrier, and means for returning the carrier to normal position when released from the influence of the inclined l'OOVB.

5. In an automatic recording mechanism, a

carrier provided with gripping means and having a lug, a cam provided with inclined and straight grooves and short connecting end grooves to receive the lug of the carrier, and a'spring connected with the carrier and tensioned by movement of the carrier in one direction and adapted to return the carrier to normal position when released from the influence of the inclined groove of the cam.

6. In an automatic recording mechanism, a power driven shaft, a carrier, a shaft mounted on the carrier and telescoping the power driven shaft, a plunger mounted in the carrier in line with. the telescoping shaft and acting jointly with the latter to grip a record blank, means for positively moving the carrier in one direction, stop means for arresting the movement of the plunger to efiect release of the blank, means for quickly returning the carrier to normal position, and trip means for moving the plunger outward to admit of a record having free passage between the plunger and telescoping shaft.

7. In an automatic recording mechanism, a runway adapted to receive a plurality of record blanks, a feeder mounted for rotation in the run= way for releasing the blanks one at a time, an arrester for limiting the advance of the blanks, a carrier movable transversely of the runway and provided with gripping means, and means for moving said arrester to lift the blank into proper position to be engaged by the gripping means of the carrier.

8. In an automatic recording mechanism, a runway adapted to receive a plurality of record blanks, a carrier movable transversely of the runway and provided with gripping means including a plunger, means mounted for rotation in the runway for releasing the'blanks one at a time, a stop on the plunger, a lever adapted to coact with said stop, a rod mounted upon the carrier and connected with said lever, a spring normally urging the'plunger forwardly to grip a blank, and a stop adapted to engage said rod and normally hold the plunger retracted to admitof a blank having free position.

9. In an automatic recording mechanism, a magazine for containing a plurality of record blanks, a feeder mounted for rotation in the passage into operating magazine, means for intermittently revolving the feeder to successively engage the blanks and feed said blanks one at a time through the magazine,

a carrier movable transversely of the magazine and adapted to receive the blanks from said magazine, a recorder, means for gripping and rotating a blank in the carrier, and means for mo'ving the carrier past the recorder as the message is recorded upon the blank.

VLADIMIR NIGERADSE. [L.S.] 

